Strawberry cultivars were developed via traditional breeding techniques by Rutgers professor emeritus Dr. Gojko Jelenkovic. For over 35 years, Dr. Jelenkovic worked on improving strawberry yield, resistance to diseases, and, most importantly, fruit quality and flavor. This work was followed by extensive testing of strawberry selections by Agricultural Agents Bill Hlubik and Peter Nitzsche in field trials at NJAES, observational trials at conventional and organic farms, and flavor evaluations by consumer taste panels. The mission of the strawberry breeding program is to increase production efficiency and protect fruit crops against environmental and biological hazards, while decreasing production costs and pesticide use. Rutgers-bred strawberries are designed to be well-suited for New Jersey’s variable climate and are becoming a popular crop for local farms.
Strawberry Availability
Berries
- Look for Rutgers Scarlet™ strawberries in May and June.
- For fruit availability contact your local farm stand, pick-your-own farm and/or farmers market. See the Jersey Fresh site to find a listing of local farms.
- Check with the farm or nursery for availability, hours, and types of products. Product inventory can vary daily.
Plants
- Rutgers ScarletTM strawberry plants are currently not available commercially but limited quantities should be available again in the spring of 2022.
Wholesale Availability
Updated information will be provided as soon as it’s available.
For more information, Rutgers Licensing and Technology: Agricultural Products- Strawberries
Sources
New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station
Better Tasting Strawberry Developed at Rutgers Makes Its Debut